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-   -   Sewing machine - buyers remorse? (https://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1/sewing-machine-buyers-remorse-t184473.html)

Dolphyngyrl 03-30-2012 03:41 PM

No I love mine, however I wish I had waited a few more months to get the newer model with more stitches, but mine is still a fun machine and I love her. I agree with researchinging to really get a machine that is right for you, you don't want to spend thousands and only use the machine for stuff you can do on a lower end. I think thats most that do research and don't impulse buy don't have any regret.

ShabbyTabby 03-30-2012 03:55 PM

I have a Viking 550 (Lily) that I bought about 12 years ago. Never had a problem with it and it does all I will ever need. At the time I got it, another lady had purchased it about 4 months before and then decided that she wanted the newer one with the embrodiery. The dealer took it in as a trade and I got it for $ 1600. At the time it was originally sold it was about $2500. Glad I got it back then as I sure couldn't afford the newer ones now!!

shawnan 03-30-2012 04:00 PM

My only regret was that it was a budget crunch for a while, but that really had nothing to do with the machine. We had some unexpected expenses in other areas of our life soon after purchase of the machine, but I would do it all again as I love my machine.

PaperPrincess 03-30-2012 04:01 PM

I love mine, but do your homework! The dealer should let you play on one of their machines first. Bring your own fabric, and/or mini project, or something that is similar to the usual sewing tasks you do. Another route may be to get a trade-in from the dealer. My dealer offers free classes and a warranty on used machines.

twoxover 03-30-2012 04:08 PM

i have a viking 350, about 14 years old. I love this machine....but, right now i have a bernina 450 on layaway. it was a classroom machine at my LQS and so am getting it at a reasonable price. I'm still paying it off, so i will let you know in a few months how i like it (when it arrives here!). At this point in my life (Katie a senior in high school and going away to college, nate in fourth grade), I cannot justify a $5K or more machine. I'm very happy that my husband supports the idea of the bernina!

My advice to you would be to go to different dealers and try the machines you think you are interested in. bring your own fabric...for example, if all you do is quilt-bring fabric and some small quilt sandwhiches. if you also sew clothing (like i am attempting to do), bring examples of the type of fabric that you sew with. and test on your fabric samples. heck, i even labelled them so i could then line them all up and compare. Bernina won hands down for me.

hopetoquilt 03-30-2012 04:30 PM

I have a Babylock Quilter's choice and when you remove the extension table, the shape of the machine is not rectangular which means you need a specialized cutout for a quilting table. That is something that I have found annoying. The plug is not great and I have problems with lowering and raising the feed dogs. My machine was $1000 when I bought it new. Other than these few glitches, it has been great.

lalaland 03-30-2012 04:32 PM

I bought a combo sewing/embroidery Brother Innovis 4000D for $5,000. What I regretted is I NEVER used the sewing machine, not once, and it was a really high end machine too. I used it exclusively for embroidering and I used it a LOT. I had it for 4 years and upgraded to a 6 needle machine. I sold it recently and I have to admit, I do miss seeing it on it's perch in my sewing room when I go in there but the person who bought it uses it both for sewing and embroidering and that makes me feel better.

Christine- 03-30-2012 04:41 PM

I have a Bernina 640 and haven't regretted it for a minute. (I didn't buy the embroidery unit) It has some pretty neat tricks that make quilting faster... like the foot pedal. Tap the foot pedal with your toes once and it will stitch once. Rock the pedal back on the heel and the needle will go up or down, depending on what you have your needle set to do. I use needle-up while sewing but when I reach a corner I like the needle down to pivot. All I have to do is rock the pedal back, needle goes down and I don't have to move my hands at all. I don't need to move my hands to the flywheel, I can 'tap' and keep going. The knee-lift, I think they call it hands-free sewing, I wouldn't give up if my life depended on it. I love it!

http://quiltdasher.blogspot.com/

dunster 03-30-2012 04:42 PM

I bought the Bernina 440QE and love that machine. However I do regret buying the embroidery module, because I don't use it.

annies-best 03-30-2012 04:49 PM

Really do a lot of research and make sure the one you are buying is the one you want I always see something after buying almost anything that i wish it had I can't afford the high end but did buy the singer futura SE 2000 last year right after they came out with one that had a much bigger hoop wish i had waited just a bit longer.............AH BUT someday ???


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